Extensible buckle



July 5, 1932.

A. F. KRAEMER 1,866,165

EXTENS IBLE BUCKLE Filed Feb. 27, 1932 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 5, 1932 AUGUST F. KBIAEMER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS STERN COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND Ex-TENSIBLE BUCKLE Application filed February 27, 1988. Serial No. 595,444.

This invention relates to an extension buckle and has for its object to provide a construction which will permit folding of the sections one upon the other; and one in which i parts are relatively movable to permit contraction of the bracelet when the sections are in folded position. Another object of this invention is the provision of an adjustment of the encircling size of the bracelet when in folded position and which will be released when in unfolded positionyto permit expansion of the same to add .to the length gained in unfolding of the sections of the buckle. A further object of this invention is the provision of a separate resilient latch which may be of harder. material than that of the material of the sections to increase the life of the latch. i

A still further object of this inventionis the provision of a pair .ofracks with a pair of latches to engage these racks to hold a.sl1dable member in adjusted position.

A still further object of this invention is to mount the-means for holdin the relatively movable parts in adjustment 1n such a manner as to act through an intermediate section in their operation.

With these and other objects in view, th so inventionconsists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. i

In the accompanying drawing: i Fig. 1 is apers ective view of my extension buckle in fol ed position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same in unfolded position. a Fig. 3 is. a perspectiye view of the slide membenin, one of the end sections of the buckle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end section inwhich the slide member is mounted. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the latch. Fig. 6 isa plan view of the buckle in folded position with portions broken away to illustrate the position of the operating parts.- Fig. 7 1s a line on 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In the useof wrist watch straps it is desirable to provide an extension device interso that the slide may be moved inwardly by reason of the resiliency of the parts, but is prevented fror'n'moving outwardly until the latches and rack are disengaged. Thus .a

contraction of the parts may be had by forcc5 ing the parts together, but no ex ansion is permitted until t e sections are un olded and the rack and latches disconnected to permit this movement; 'and'the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of -this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing 10 designates one end 11 the other end section, and 12 the intermediate section hinged as at 13 and 14 at its ends to the ends of these end sections that they may be foldedwne upon the other.

- The end section 10 is a generally channel shaped section with atop wall15 and sidewall a 16 with inwardly extending flanges or parts of a bottom wall 17 which receivebetween the flanges and top wall'the-slide member 18 to be guided between the side walls and the flanges I'Uarid top wall. The slide member is 35 U shape with rack teeth'19 along the inner face of each of the arms 20, which are joined together by the bridge portion 21. When in unfolded'position the slide member may move: freely longitudinally of the'end channel sec tion 10 beneath the flange members 17.

The end section 11 is provided with a separate member 22 having resilientarms 23 turned outwardly to form latches 24, the same being secured in the end section 11 by .--r neans of rivets 25 extending. through this member and through the openings 27 in the k side walls 28 of the member 11.by which construction the arms carrying these latches are 106 limited in their outward movement by engagement with the walls 28. I

The intermediate section 12 is provided with stiffening edges 29 which are notched or provided with openings 30 intermediate .its ends to permit the latches 24 to pass therethrough and engage the teeth 19 of the rack portions of the slide member 20, and as, these latches must protrude suflicient to engage these rack teeth, notches 31 in the flanges 17 is provided to permit the passage of these latches into position for such engagement.

In moving the device to folded position the section 12 is housed Within the section 11- and the section 11 fits between the edges of the flanges 17 The sections are held in this position by reason of the detents 32 and 33 on either edge wall 28 of the section 11 engaging back of the edges of the flanges 17 to hold the parts in folded position from which there may be lifted by reason of the finger piece 37 formed on the top wall '15 of the section 10.

When in unfolded position it will be ap- I parent that the latches are removed from the rack teeth 19;however, when the parts are in folded position the latches 24 are in engagement with the rack teeth 19 and the shape of the teeth and the latches is such that square abutments 34 and 35' are provided for engagement to prevent outward movement of the member 18 with reference to the sections, whereas the latches are inclined as at 36 and the rack teeth as at 37 so that pressure on the slide member 18 to move it into inwardly, due to the resilience of their arms 23 and permit the latch to slip from one tooth to another until the device is moved to its desired contracted position. r

If, however, it is desired to release this member to permit expansion, the sections U member 18 to hold it in position.

must be lifted apart or unfolded to disengage the latches 24from the rack teeth to permit such expansion or relative sliding of the member 18 with reference to the section 10 in which it is mounted.

it is slidable I'have provided a finger'38 at the end of the section 10 and bridged the ends of the member 18 by an abutment 39 set In notches 40 in the face of the arms of the This abutment is offset toward the top wall ofthe section 10 and will engage the finger 38 to prevent complete detachment of the parts. By providing a separate latch 22 I may form the same of desired spring steel that its life may be longer than where the softer stock used for the sections is used to provide the latch.

The foregoing description is directed solely'towards the construction illustrated, but

I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resortin to all the mechanical changes to which the evice is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Iclaim: V

1. .In an extendible buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together and foldable one on the other, a member slidably mounted in one section, spaced sets of rack teeth on said member, a latch member provided on another section to hold said members and sections in different relative positions of adtjustment, said latch member engaging said rack teeth when the sections are in folded position and being withdrawn therefrom when the sections are in unfolded position.

2. In an extendible buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together and foldable one on the other, a U shape member slidably mounted in one section, rack teeth on the arms of the U of said member, a latch member having a pair of latches provided on another section to hold said members and sections indifferent relative positions of adjustment, said latches en'gagin said rack teeth when the sections are in foIded position and being withdrawn therefrom when the sections are in unfolded position.

3. In an extendible buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together and foldable one on the other, a member slidably mounted in one of said sections, spaced sets of rack teeth on another section to hold said members and sections in different relative positions of adjustment, said latch member engaging said rack teeth when the sections are in folded position and being withdrawn therefrom when the sections are 'in unfolded position, said latch member and rack teeth being relatively resilientl mounted and the shape of said latch mem er and rack 'teethbeing such as to permit movement of the-latch member along the rack in one direction only, due to the relative resilience between them, but pre- 'vent movement in the opposite direction.

4:. In an extendible buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together and foldable one on the other, a U shape member slidably mounted in one section, rack teeth on the arms of the U of said member, a latch member having a pair of latches provided on another section to hold said members and sections in differ- A along-the rack in one direction only, due to the relative resilience between them, but prevent movement inthe opposite direction.

5. In an extension buckle, a plurality of ent relative positions of adjustment, said w latches engaging said rack teeth when the sec-' sections hinged together and foldable one on another, a member slidable in one end section and provided with rack teeth, a separate latch member having a resilient latch secured to another section and engaging said rack teeth to hold said members and sections in different relative positions of adjustment, said latch being flexible inwardly upon movement of said slidable member in its section in one direction, whereby the latch is snapped from one tooth to another.

6. In an extendible buckle, an end channel section having inwardly extending flanges, a U shape member slidable therein with its arms beneath said flanges, rack teeth on the inner surfaces of said arms, another end section channel shape in cross-section, a latch member having resilient latches securedthereon and having portions extending through the side walls of said channel section by which they are limited in their outward movement and engageable with saidrac'k teeth and an intermediate section hingedly connected at its ends to the ends of said end section.

' 7. In an extendible buckle, an end channel section having inwardly extending flanges, a

U shape member slidable therein with its arms beneath said flanges, rack teeth on the inner surfaces of said arms, another end section channel shape in cross section, a latch member having resilient latches secured thereon and having portions extending through the side walls of said channel section by which they are limited in their outward movement and an intermediate section hingedly connected at its ends to the ends of said end sections, said intermediate section being channel shape and of a size to receive said other end section therein and the side Walls of said channel intermediate section being providedwith openings through which said latches extend to engage said rack teeth to hold the sections in diflerent desired positions of adjustment.

8. In an extendible buckle, an end channel section having inwardly extending flanges, a U shape member slidable therein with its arms beneath said flanges, rack teeth 011 the inner surfaces of said arms, another end section channel shape in cross-section, a latch member having resilient latches secured thereon and having portions extending through the side walls of said channel section by which. they are limited in their out- Ward movement and an intermediate section hingedly connected at its ends to the ends of said end sections, said rack arms and latches being relatively resilient and said teeth and latches being shaped to permit movement in one direction due to said resiliency but to prevent relative movement in the other direction to hold the sections in different desire positions of adjustment. 9. In an extendible buckle, an end channel shape and of a size to receive said other end section therein and the side walls of said channel intermediate section being provided with openings through which said latches extend to engage said rack teeth, said rack arms and latches being relatively resilient and said teeth and latches being shaped to permit movement in one direction, due to said resiliency, but to 'prevent relative movement in the other direction to hold the sections in different desired positions of adjustment.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AUGUST F. KRAEMER. 

